Stiff Ropes

[Stemar]

The halyards o my Snapdragon 24 appear to be sound, but are very stiff. They’re around 10mm diameter, made of laid artificial fibre, presumably poyester. I don’t know how old they are, because I’ve only had the boat a couple of months. Is there anything I can do to soften them so my poor soft office hands don’t suffer unnecessarily? Yes I know I could wear gloves, but the weather this weekend was far too nice, and anyway, the stiffness make it hard to cleat them off!

If not, do I put up with them, or have they degraded to the point where I should replace them?

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

they are almost certainly nylon, which absorbs salt grit and stiffens with age.

Into the washing machine they must go, 60'C wash, slow spin if you want. lots of powder, they will come out like new.

I have just washed my old anchor warps so they can be used as docklines, been in a rusty old locker for years, now look nearly new and so soft /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk/Honda_00.html>Honda Formula 4-Stroke racing</A>

 

[ccscott49]

Pressure washer or washing machine with powder and softener, come out like new!

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[Richard_Blake]

Agree with both - except for temperature. I was warned not to wash synthetic fibre ropes at more than 35C-ish unless you're very sure of the make, material and makers recommendations. Heat can weaken them. Double cycle, bio/enzyme stuff in the first if you've got it, and indeed softener. Like 'em soft, but don't want the whole caboodle down on my head.... (and my caboodle's gaff)

Richard

<hr width=100% size=1>LowTech

 

[Richard_Blake]

Agree with both - except for temperature. I was warned not to wash synthetic fibre ropes at more than 35C-ish unless you're very sure of the make, material and makers recommendations. Heat can weaken them. Double cycle, bio/enzyme stuff in the first if you've got it, and indeed softener. Like 'em soft, but don't want the whole caboodle down on my head.... (my caboodle's gaff)

Richard

<hr width=100% size=1>LowTech

 

[Richard_Blake]

Oops, sorry, double
(So now he's wasted our time with a third one?)

<hr width=100% size=1>LowTech

 

[Birdseye]

Washed my reefing lines and they did come out "as soft as my hands". Unfortunately, they also shrunk - something that I didnt think they could do.

Anyway, why not treat yourself to some new ones. This years colours are so .......... nautical(?)

Enjoy the new boat!

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[dickh]

Put them in the washing machine as others say, but at a cool wash30/40ºC max. Make sure the ends are properly whipped or melted and if you have a snap shackle or similar spliced on , put the shackle in a sock tied on - it won't make a noise and alert SWMBO what you are up to. Better still ask permission first....
Make sur you runa messanger lines through so you can re-reeve them afterwards. Thjey will come up like new.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[AndrewB]

Polypropylene?

Could it be possible that the previous owner was a cheapskate and used polypropylene fisherman's rope for the halyards? Suspect this if the halyards are three or four-stranded rope, rather than smooth surfaced braidline.

It's hard wearing alright, but quite unsuitable for halyards because not only is it very stiff but also it stretches. The only solution would be to replace - at least it makes good mooring lines.

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[Trevor_swfyc]

Re: Polypropylene?

Its when you are about to be hauled aloft by the main halyard you will wish you had replaced it, you said it looks sound but when you are on the end of it, maybe 10 metres off the deck will it still look so good?
A club member several years ago ran aground on a spring tide, he remembered that if you put weight on the boom and swing it out it might get you off. Unfortunatly he chose to be the weight on the boom and swung out, the topping lift snapped and he fell onto a stantion, ouch /forums/images/icons/frown.gif

Trevor


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